I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 301 5 Prime Ministers 2 Officials

That day, Ying Wuyou, as usual, finished the morning court and prepared to leave the palace. Suddenly, the King of Qin called out to keep her there, indicating that they should discuss important matters after all the other ministers had left. Once everyone had dispersed, Ying Wuyou obediently followed the King of Qin to a side hall. Inside, Ying Wuyou behaved very well-behavedly, quietly sitting down to the side, and then softly asked, "Father, why have you specifically kept me here today?"

The King of Qin picked up a bowl of hot soup from the table, took two sips, and slowly put the bowl down. Then, he looked at Ying Wuyou and said, "Recently, the number of people skipping court has been increasing. What do you think of this phenomenon?"

Ying Wuyou pondered for a moment, then replied, "In my opinion, if Father could decisively order the holding of the civil service examinations at this moment, many problems would surely be solved. In this way, we can not only recruit talented people, but also bring back officials who have been absent from court."

The King of Qin nodded and said, "In recent days, I have also repeatedly considered what you said before. Our Great Qin should indeed establish the imperial examination system."

Upon hearing the King of Qin's words, Ying Wuyou's face immediately lit up with a joyful smile. She excitedly exclaimed, "Father is truly wise and mighty!"

The King of Qin waved his hand and then asked, "Do you have any other ideas for this bureaucratic system?"

Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou was secretly delighted, thinking that his long-planned scheme was finally about to succeed. He quickly replied, "Father, you truly understand me best! In fact, after a long period of thought and research, I have indeed devised a completely new bureaucratic system. This system combines the advantages of both the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system and the Three Departments and Six Ministries system, while eliminating some of their respective drawbacks. For ease of reference, I will simply call it 'Five Ministers and Twelve Departments'."

After listening, the King of Qin nodded with interest, signaling Ying Wuyou to continue.

Ying Wuyou said, “Father, the system I have envisioned first establishes five ministers at the central level, each in charge of administration, military affairs, supervision, finance, and law. The power of these five ministers will be mutually checked and balanced, preventing any one minister from becoming too powerful, while all of them will be directly responsible to you, Father. In this way, not only can power be effectively distributed to prevent any one faction from becoming too powerful, but it can also ensure the smooth flow of government orders and greatly enhance your absolute control over the government.”

Then, Ying Wuyou paused briefly to observe the King of Qin's reaction. Seeing that the king was listening very attentively, he continued, "Below the administrative level, we further subdivide into twelve departments, each corresponding to different specific areas such as people's livelihood, water conservancy, agriculture, and commerce. Each department has a clear division of responsibilities. They must cooperate with each other to promote the smooth progress of various affairs of the Qin Dynasty, while also supervising and restraining each other to prevent anyone from engaging in favoritism or dereliction of duty."

Finally, Ying Wuyou emphasized: "As for local governance, I believe that the prefecture-county system should be fully implemented. Prefects and magistrates in all regions should be appointed and dismissed directly by the court, and a strict regular assessment mechanism should be established. Once those with poor performance are discovered, they should be replaced immediately. We must not tolerate evil! Only in this way can we ensure that local officials are always conscientious and diligent in working for the well-being of the people and contributing to the prosperity of our Great Qin."

After listening, the King of Qin fell into deep thought. After a moment, he asked, "The idea is novel, but such a complex system will likely face many difficulties in its implementation. Will officials at all levels be able to understand and execute it?"

Ying Wuyou was prepared and calmly replied, "Father, there will indeed be many obstacles in the initial implementation. Therefore, we can first pilot the system in the counties surrounding Xianyang, select a group of young and knowledgeable officials, and provide them with specialized training so that they can deeply understand the operation of the new system. At the same time, we should establish a special supervisory agency to monitor the implementation of the system by officials at all levels in real time, and severely punish anyone who disobeys or deliberately misinterprets the new system."

The King of Qin then asked, "What if these five ministers disagree or even fight among themselves?"

Ying Wuyou said confidently, "Father, we can establish a royal council, with the five ministers participating regularly. Major decisions must be discussed together at the council, and if there are disagreements, the final decision will be made by Father. On ordinary days, the censor will be responsible for supervising the other four ministers. If any disputes are found to affect the administration of the court, they will be impeached immediately."

Ying Zheng stood up and paced around the hall. After thinking for a long time, a satisfied smile appeared on his face: "Jiayang, if this system can be successfully implemented, our Great Qin will surely enjoy long-term peace and stability. Your contribution will be remembered in the future."

Ying Wuyou bowed and said, "It is my honor to be able to share my father's worries and contribute to the Qin state."

The King of Qin then asked, "And what about this economic zone?"

Ying Wuyou said, "The economic zone should naturally fall under the jurisdiction of the Finance Minister among the Five Ministers. However, I suggest that a Commerce Department and a Workshop Department be established separately within it. The Commerce Department will be responsible for supervising market transactions, the development of trade routes, and other matters to ensure the orderly development of commerce; the Workshop Department will be in charge of various handicraft workshops, including the establishment of workshops, the management of craftsmen, and the standardization of produced goods."

The King of Qin nodded slightly, his eyes showing approval: "Such meticulousness, truly thorough. But how will the Commerce Department and the Workshop Department cooperate? We must lest they develop any discord."

Ying Wuyou respectfully replied, "Father, the Commerce Department is responsible for exploring market demand and relaying the information to the Workshop Department. The Workshop Department adjusts production according to demand, and the products are then sold through the Commerce Department. The two departments exchange goods and supervise each other. If one party violates regulations, the other party has the right to report it to the Minister of Supervision."

King Qin laughed heartily, his voice echoing throughout the palace like a booming bell: "Hahahaha! Excellent, excellent! Jiayang, your mind is meticulous. If this system can be implemented, I will certainly give you credit! Tomorrow, I will first order the establishment of the imperial examinations. After all the ministers have come to court, you can then present the 'Five Ministers and Twelve Departments' proposal. If it can be successfully passed in court, I will immediately begin arranging its trial implementation."

Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou smiled gently and nodded slightly, replying softly, "Thank you for your praise, Father. I will leave everything to you." As she finished speaking, her beautiful eyes sparkled with confidence and anticipation.

The King of Qin nodded in satisfaction, then instructed, "Hmm, very good. In that case, you may leave now. Go back and prepare a detailed memorial for me to review."

Ying Wuyou gladly accepted the order, smiling as she replied, "Your subject will obey Your Majesty's decree." She then gracefully performed a curtsy, her movements elegant and poised. Immediately afterward, she slowly turned and left the palace with unhurried steps. Her figure gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing from the King of Qin's sight.