China's official position system was mainly formed in the Han Dynasty. The official position system of the Han Dynasty formed a pattern with the prime minister as the core and six ministries as supplements. At that time, the prime minister could appoint staff, which was the so-called opening of the government. He also had the power to discuss government affairs.
The power of decision-making and administration often threatened the authority of the emperor.
Therefore, there are often battles between the power of the king and the power of the prime minister.
Because the prime minister has such great authority, when appointing the prime minister, there must be a ceremony of "worshiping the prime minister". This indicates that the monarch entrusts the country to the prime minister and entrusts the prime minister to govern it.
The prime minister at this time is somewhat similar to the managers of later generations. The old chairman had a hard time starting a business and finally built a huge family business. He was afraid that his prodigal son would ruin the family business, so he wanted to find a capable person to manage his own industry.
The prime minister is the manager. If the master is weak and the servant is strong, he will naturally offend the majesty of the monarch.
After understanding the shortcomings of the Han Dynasty's official system, the monarchs of subsequent dynasties tried every means to reduce the powers of the prime minister.
First, the "three provinces" were established to divide the power of the prime ministers to discuss government. In other words, the prime ministers in the traditional sense are divided into three, namely, the chiefs of the three provinces, the ministers of the province of Zhongshu, the ministers of the ministers, and the ministers of the ministers. The three prime ministers
Who takes the lead depends on the emperor's mood.
After dividing the political power, the emperors of the past dynasties reused the six departments to divide the administrative power of the prime minister. Only this decision-making power has always been in the hands of the prime minister. Why? Human nature. Everyone who becomes an emperor will experience a period of encouragement.
To strive for strength', and then to be content with enjoyment for a long time. Enjoyment requires a person to govern the country, right? Naturally, this person can only be the prime minister, and giving the prime minister decision-making power is also an excellent way to take the blame. In this way
If something goes wrong, you just need to blame it on the prime minister, or change it to another prime minister.
Of course, the granting of decision-making power still cannot solve the problem of decentralization of power. Therefore, after Li Shimin ascended the throne, he hinted to the officials and abolished the post of Shangshu Ling on the pretext that he had served as a prime minister, which was equivalent to abolishing the prime minister in disguise.
The left and right prime ministers, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, nominally share the power of the prime minister. But in fact, the position of prime minister can only be held by one person. If there is one more person, the process of negotiation and decision-making will be inevitable. If
The two had different opinions, and in the end the decision had to be made by the emperor, so the decision-making power of the prime minister was in name only.
However, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui are both famous virtuous ministers in history. The two of them complement each other and cooperate very well. Even if they have some disagreements, they can reach compromises with each other.
Things that both of them agreed on gave Li Shimin very little room to refute.
Therefore, during the years when Du Ruhui was alive, the Tang Dynasty actually had a prime minister. After Du Ruhui died, Li Shimin promoted Li Jing to the right servant position. Li Jing was born in the military and had no experience in administration. This resulted in the current power of the prime minister.
Basically everything is in the hands of Fang Xuanling.
Although Fang Xuanling has the talent of a prime minister, he is notoriously indecisive, otherwise he would not be known as "Fang Xuanling". Without Du Ruhui, the person who makes decisions, the left and right ministers are equivalent to giving up on decision-making.
Quan. This is also the reason why Li Shimin has more and more memorials to review. Fang Xuanling cannot make decisions, so he has to come.
At this time, Li Shimin invited Changsun Wuji to review the memorial together. It was like assigning Du Ruhui's responsibilities to Changsun Wuji. Changsun Wuji was originally the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, in charge of the promotion and transfer of officials, and also served as the right servant.
As a result, he naturally became the most powerful person in the dynasty.
All civil and military officials in the dynasty felt that there was no problem with this arrangement. Changsun Wuji was originally the number one person in Conglong, and Li Shimin had long said that he would be appointed as Shangshu Ling. It was Empress Changsun's strong opposition that prevented this from happening.
This disguised method can be regarded as a tacit understanding between the monarch and his ministers.
Changsun Wuji himself also felt that he deserved this honor. Whether it was in terms of personal feelings or how much he contributed to the Xuanwu Gate incident, Changsun Wuji dared to be ranked second. Who dared to be ranked first?
However, the word "Secretary Supervisor" was suddenly changed to "Secretary Pavilion". This single word difference invisibly deprived Changsun Wuji of his power as prime minister. But he could not even say a word.
In the past, Li Shimin asked him to help him read the memorial. This was a private act. It did not give him authority or appoint him to do this. In other words, Li Shimin just found another person to help him read the memorial, and this person also
He's just a ninth-grade bachelor. A mere bachelor. Does your grandson Wuji have to care about it?
In what name are you comparing?
This is called a dumb person who eats Coptis chinensis and cannot express the pain.
After the court meeting, Li Shimin announced two more appointments, appointing Shangshu's left servant She Fang Xuanling as a bachelor of Chongwen Hall to compile national history and recruit talents, and appointing Shangshu's right servant Li Jing as a bachelor of Wude Palace to take charge of the East and West Second Factory.
Ordnance construction.
At the same time, there was another small appointment, moving the resident Lang Chu Suiliang to be the bachelor of the Secretary Pavilion.
Chu Suiliang was not famous at this time, but he was always in the heart of the emperor. The reason why he was in the heart of the emperor was because of his father. In the fourth year of Wude, Li Yuan allowed Li Shimin to open a mansion in Luoyang. In the same year, in order to win the support of the gentry,
Li Shimin established his own literary museum and recruited eighteen celebrities from all over the world as his staff. Chu Suiliang's father, Chu Liang, was one of them, in charge of literature. Chu Suiliang followed his father at this time and was responsible for the daily affairs of the Hongwen Museum, and could often
Meet Li Shimin.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, because Chu Suiliang was upright, he appointed him as a living minister, responsible for recording the emperor's words and deeds. In other words, although Chu Suiliang was not a big official, he had been around Li Shimin and was involved in many national affairs. Li Shimin
Occasionally, I would ask Chu Suiliang about his views on certain things, and I knew his talents well.
Since the Secretary's Pavilion is set up, it is naturally impossible to have only one bachelor. Ma Zhou is a talent who followed Li Mu and was beaten under Li Mu. Li Shimin must reuse it, but in addition to Ma Zhou, Li Shimin must also use some of his own people.
', Chu Suiliang is one of them.
In the future, some people like "Jian Zai Zai Xin" will be employed. Li Shimin knows this, but it is not appropriate to reveal them all at this time.
After several appointments, although they were not made explicit, all the officials already understood what Li Shimin meant. He set up a bachelor's office in the Secretariat, and also made the left and right prime ministers concurrently serve as bachelors. This clearly sent a signal about the importance of the Secretariat.
, will be equal to the left and right in the future. Don’t look down upon the bachelors of the Secretary Pavilion just because they are only ninth grade. The bachelors of the Secretary Pavilion may also be the prime minister in the future!