Chapter 910 - 93: Genesis, Kyushu Turns the Page

The entire Chuigong Hall was engulfed in dead silence.

The ministers displayed diverse expressions, some furrowing their brows tightly, while others shook their heads and sighed, each face full of complex emotions.

Although, on the surface, this matter appeared to be all benefit without harm to them.

After all, it limited imperial power.

This inevitably meant that power would tilt downward, allowing them to share the spoils regardless of the circumstances.

But how could the reality be that simple?

First, there was the fear of "unknown rules."

In the old court operations, despite factional strife and struggles, the rules were relatively "familiar"—relying on power ministers, forming factions for personal gain, anticipating imperial intentions, leveraging information gaps, depending on regional or academic ties...

These were the "skills" they had honed for years, on which they relied for survival and even prosperity.

However, the "cabinet" proposed by Gu Hui had a completely new, untested, and unfamiliar system for its selection mechanism, operation process, and power boundaries.

Under this system, their past experiences, networks, and even the wisdom of "choosing sides" might largely become ineffective.

Naturally, they felt uncomfortable.

Those present were all old foxes.

Some things, although seemingly enticing, were still far less appealing compared to what they already held in their hands.

This was a truth understood by all of them.

Secondly, there was the concern for interests.

In their eyes, the institutionalized division and constraint of imperial power did not mean that power would "rain evenly" upon every official’s head.

On the contrary, this meticulously designed system might mean that power would concentrate on a minority who met new standards and be orderly distributed through the "cabinet" as a hub.

Those local noble family representatives who maintained their status through blood ties, marriage alliances, and regional connections;

Those old civil service system elites skilled in empty rhetoric and poetry rather than practical affairs;

Those opportunists who seized benefits through less honorable means during wars or transitions, all might become marginalized or even purged in this new system emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and checks and balances.

"Investigation Envoy" could directly reach the emperor, while "Ministry of Communication" blocked the channels.

This was equivalent to creating gaps simultaneously at both ends of the "strata of oppression" structure where they used to hide.

Moreover, there was the transformation of identity.

In the old system, an official’s promotion or demotion, although complex, always had a pattern to follow, a power to rely on, a faction to belong to.

However, in the new framework constituted by the "cabinet" and "Ministry of Communication," the definition of loyalty might no longer be merely loyal to a specific person due to the mutual restraint of various interests.

Instead, it meant loyalty to the system, loyalty to "national affairs," and perhaps even loyalty to the "reform" ideology represented by Gu Hui.

The positions they once relied on for self-preservation or advancement suddenly became vague and dangerous.

Support the new policy?

Of course, support is necessary, but how to support in order to gain a favorable position in the new system?

Recommend candidates for the cabinet?

Whom should they recommend?

Should they recommend publicly recognized talents, or recommend allies from their own faction?

If recommending the latter, would it be seen as forming cliques by Gu Hui and the Imperial Censorate? If recommending the former, would it weaken their own power?

All these were problems.

Of course, it was naturally impossible for only these problems to exist under this series of systems.

However, because the time was too short, these people hadn’t thought of it yet.

But these problems alone were already sufficient!

The entire hall was in dead silence.

And Gu Hui did not rush, silently watching everyone, his expression unchanged from beginning to end.

After a long time, former Assistant Minister of State Li Gang deeply sighed and finally bowed to speak: "The Grand Tutor is farsighted, wishing to establish an unchanging system for generations, which this old minister admires."

"Yet, this old minister is foolish, there are still several unclear aspects regarding this ’cabinet’ system, humbly seek the Grand Tutor’s guidance."

He chose his words extremely cautiously, "Firstly, the Grand Academician in the cabinet has a position equal to the Grand Tutor, with significant responsibilities."

"However, their selection involves recommendations from the court, investigation by the censors, and final selection."

"If the court’s public opinion, the censors’ investigations, or... the imperial will differ, which should take precedence?"

"Could lead to disputes, delaying national affairs."

He was asking about the potential conflicts in the decision-making mechanism, actually worrying that future power struggles would become more complex and unpredictable, and people like him, the "clean stream," would struggle to ascend without support in "court recommendations," even if recognized by censors.

As soon as Li Gang finished speaking, the topic was immediately picked up.

Immediately, someone else spoke up: "This humble official also has questions."

"Since the cabinet is a permanent place for political discussion, coordinating daily government affairs between various ministries, how does it divide responsibilities with the existing six ministries?"

"For example, if the Ministry of Revenue is distributing funds, or the Ministry of War is organizing military resources, if the cabinet has determined something, but the ministry heads find it inappropriate, should they follow the cabinet’s decision or allow the ministries to argue?"

"If everything requires cabinet decision, then the six ministries are reduced to mere formality;"

"If the cabinet’s decisions are often hindered by the ministries, then where is the cabinet’s authority?"

"The subtlety between them likely needs clarification."

He pointed out the core issue of potential overlap and conflict between new and old institutional powers, which involves numerous mid to high-level officials’ actual power and promotion channels.

Next, Assistant Imperial Censor Zhang Jun cautiously spoke: "The Grand Tutor established the cabinet, with the intent of gathering broad perspectives to avoid biased listening."

"However, the number of Grand Academicians in the cabinet is limited, and if their selection remains fixed for long periods, or is nominally changed but remains essentially the same, over time, would it lead to forming a new, more solid ’inner circle’?"

"Can their political discussions truly represent a wide range of opinions both inside and outside the court?"