stonecrandall Chapter 951: Settle the overall situation and reorganize the court!
Chapter 951: Settle the overall situation and reorganize the court!
Gao Yao paused, his tone carrying a hint of the calmness of someone in control of the situation. "Our court has undergone numerous changes, with the establishment of new departments and the reform of the official system. It's not appropriate to establish a formal Censorate right away. Since Wu She is willing to take on this role, and his motivation is also for the country, and his talent and wisdom are more than enough to be qualified for the position of Vice Minister of Personnel, then why not half-heartedly cooperate with him and continue this drama? As long as he grasps the limits and does not go too far, I can tolerate and use him as a loyal minister!"
The flickering candlelight within the hall illuminated Gao Yao's profound expression in varying shades of light. This private conversation, held between just two people, revealed far more than just the appointment and opinion of a single individual; it revealed the naked laws of survival and the exquisite art of checks and balances within the realm of power. Xiao He stood solemnly by, his heart swirling with emotion, and he felt a deeper respect for the king's insight and ability to control his subordinates.
Xiao He pondered Gao Yao's analysis of Wu She, chewing it over and over in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it contained profound insights into how to judge and employ people. He had originally thought of Wu She as simply outspoken, but hadn't delved into the logic and tenacity behind his actions. Now, after Gao Yao's guidance, he felt as if the clouds had cleared and he could see the light. He couldn't help but sigh, his tone filled with sincere admiration and self-reflection:
"Your Majesty is a man of profound insight. I... cannot compare to him. It seems I truly underestimated Wu She before. I thought he was merely relying on a scholar's arrogance to risk his life and speak out in order to reach the emperor quickly. Now that I think about it, I realize that he can calm down in times of idleness and hardship, and yet he can accurately find his footing in times of turmoil at court. This kind of forbearance, this wisdom of careful planning before acting, is truly extraordinary, and cannot be compared to the ordinary impulsive ones."
Gao Yao heard this and a faint smile of control appeared on his face. He liked to see his important officials draw inferences from one instance and understand the deeper meaning of his plan. He picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and then slowly explained:
"Haha, Xiao He, as a ruler, you should use people like tools. It's important to know how to appoint the right people and to assess the situation. I previously left Wu She idle. It seemed like I was neglecting a meritorious official, but in fact, it was a test. I had two ulterior motives."
He held up two fingers. "First, it depends on his patience and character. Think about it, he just performed great deeds on the battlefield, risking his life, risking his life for me. After returning victorious, according to common sense, even if he is not immediately promoted, he should be rewarded to reassure his meritorious service. But I did the opposite, relegating him to a position of idleness and ignoring him. This kind of situation is extremely tiring."
"If he harbored resentment, or was impatient and lacked composure, he might well have felt his future with me was hopeless and harbored other ambitions. You must know that he has been in the military for a long time and knows a great deal about our deployments, the personalities of our generals, and even the allocation of supplies. If he had taken this information and defected to Xiang Yu or any other of the other warlords, it would have been a loss and a disgrace to me. However, Wu She didn't do that. Although he occasionally experienced confusion, he always remained committed to his duties, never overstepping the boundaries or even betraying us. This has passed the first test, proving his fortitude and commendable loyalty."
Gao Yao paused, a flicker of admiration in his eyes, and continued, "The second reason is to observe his comprehension and adaptability. Idleness is also a form of observation, to see how he handles himself and thinks in adversity. If he simply sits there in a daze, waiting for arrangements, he'd be nothing more than a mediocre person. But Wu She didn't do that. He must have used this time of leisure to carefully analyze the court situation and examine himself. He clearly knows that within the cabinet, he's nowhere near as adept at government affairs and coordinating affairs as you, Xiao He; in terms of brilliant strategies and strategic planning, he can't even compare to Zhang Liang; and in terms of charging into battle and winning battles thousands of miles away, he's no match for Han Xin."
"So, how can he find his indispensable place in this core circle of talented individuals? This seemingly risky, even somewhat 'rebellious', remonstration in the palace today is the result of his profound reflection, and it is the 'solution' that best suits him. He is proactively positioning himself as a 'honest minister' and 'purifying minister' who fears no fear of the emperor, speaks frankly, and specializes in addressing and correcting shortcomings. This boy has truly put his mind to it, and his actions have truly surprised me."
After analyzing Wu She, Gao Yao changed the subject and brought the conversation back to the arduous political affairs. He knew that an efficient administrative center was the cornerstone of governance. He looked at Xiao He, his tone becoming serious:
"Alright, let's leave Wu She's affairs at that for now. Right now, there's a lot of work to be done, and with the eleven newly acquired counties, there's a ton of things to sort out. Things have been extremely busy lately, and as the Prime Minister, I'm afraid you'll be working even harder."
He paused for a moment before proposing a plan to further develop the cabinet: "As for the cabinet structure, besides you as the Prime Minister, I have already chosen the candidate for the Second Prime Minister, and will announce it soon. However, I'm afraid that handling such a complex government with only the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister alone is still insufficient. Therefore, I propose to create the position of 'Group Prime Minister'."
Xiao He immediately listened attentively, knowing that this would be an important adjustment to the future power structure.
Gao Yao elaborated, "The so-called 'group assistants,' as the name suggests, refer to collective assistance in government. Their primary responsibility is to assist the First and Second Assistants in handling daily government affairs, responsible for researching, analyzing, and submitting recommendations for a specific area or several specific matters. While they are not the core decision-makers, they serve as important advisors and driving force behind decision-making. You must carefully select and examine these candidates. The selection mechanism can be as follows: nomination by you or the Second Assistant, or joint recommendation by officials of a certain rank or above. Ultimately, approval by more than half of the current cabinet members is required before they can join the cabinet and become group assistants."
He clarified the quota limit: "This time, the number of additional positions is tentatively set at five. Xiao He, this matter concerns the efficiency and quality of future government operations. You must understand that the position of the Group Assistant may not be high in itself, but it holds a crucial position and allows them to participate in the analysis of core decisions. Their opinions can influence the direction of national policy. Therefore, the selection must be made with great care! First, consider their moral integrity, secondly their practical ability, and thirdly their overall perspective. We must select those who are truly capable, courageous, and loyal to the king. Do you understand?"
"Yes! I will obey the king's command! I will conduct the selection process impartially and choose the most capable and virtuous for your majesty, and I will never let you down!" Xiao He bowed deeply and accepted the order in a resounding voice. He knew that these five people would become his most important assistants in the future, and would also be a key step for Gao Yao to further balance the court and gather the wisdom of all.
After receiving the order, Xiao He saw that Gao Yao had no other instructions for the time being, so he bowed and took his leave in a hurry, preparing to start the selection of assistants.