"I think this is fine."
Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly.
The Song Dynasty's system was a two-government and three-department system, which separated the power of governance, legal power, supervisory power, financial power, and military power.
Even the prime minister only had the power of governance but no financial or military power.
Once the new department is established, it can coordinate national resources, which means that all governance and financial powers will be transferred to the new department, and only the army will remain in the hands of the emperor.
The reason why Zhao Zhen agreed to the establishment of the new department was that, apart from military power, all other powers were in the hands of the bureaucrats and literati.
It was just that the bureaucrats and literati were not united originally, so the situation of decentralization was formed.
However, after the establishment of the new department, it was comparable to the ancient prime minister system, with the prime minister in charge of all national affairs and having financial power, just like during the period of Zhang Juzheng. Its prestige was bound to be unparalleled.
This situation has posed a serious threat to imperial power, and in an era where imperial power is supreme, this is not allowed to happen.
But Zhao Zhen had the army in his hands, so he naturally had the confidence.
Moreover, he felt that Zhao Jun was a descendant of the Zhao family and would not do anything that went against the decision of his ancestors. With Lu Yijian and others watching over him, he agreed without any problems.
But if even the army could be mobilized, then Emperor Zhao Zhen would be completely sidelined and would not be able to control the power. So this was his bottom line and he would never give it up.
Zhao Jun knew this, so when he saw Zhao Zhen agreed, he didn't force it. He nodded and said, "Okay, that's it."
"Well, what should this new department be called?"
Zhao Zhen changed the subject and asked.
"Let's call it the Constitutional Court."
Zhao Jun said, "The full name is the Great Song National Government Development and Institutional Innovation Institute. It is composed of several people who jointly organize meetings and discuss matters. They have the power to control everything in the Great Song Dynasty except the military, including the appointment and dismissal of all officials."
"That's it."
Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "The eldest grandson will be in charge of the Political System Institute. He will be one of the three ministers and three councilors. They are all co-directors of the institute and concurrently serve as co-ministers of the Secretariat and the Minister of State. However, this is an assignment and has no rank. I will think about it..."
As he spoke, he frowned and thought.
According to the official system of the Song Dynasty, before the Yuanfeng reform, it was divided into official positions, dispatched officials, casual officials, honorary officials, official titles, titles, etc. Among them, official positions were salaried officials, and salaried officials were linked to their salary and rank, while dispatched officials had no rank.
For example, Lü Yijian's original position was Shangshu You Pushe, a first-rank official. His second post was Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, a position without a rank. His official title was Jixiandian Grand Secretary, and his nobility was Duke of Shen.
Only the official title and the title of nobility have ranks, the rest are honorary titles, and at most they just mean an extra salary.
Therefore, if Zhao Jun wants to be the head of the Ministry of Political Affairs, he must have a certain rank himself.
Because compared to later generations, this position is basically the prime minister of a country, and it must have the corresponding level of treatment to demonstrate authority, so it must be treated specially.
However, it was impossible for him to obtain a temporary official position, because in the Song Dynasty, one had to enter the officialdom to obtain a first-rank official position, and there were basically certain qualifications and age restrictions. It was impossible for him to be in the first rank in his twenties.
However, Zhao Jun did not pass the imperial examination to become an official. Even if he took the exam in August and the results came out in October, it would not have been effective even if he had passed.
Because in Song Dynasty, Juren could not become officials like in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Unless they were specially nominated as Jinshi, they could not be granted official positions. That was why Zhao Zhen was a little embarrassed.
Seeing Zhao Zhen's bitter face as he pondered, Yan Shu thought for a moment and said, "Why not first take charge of the Political Affairs Council with a title?"
Zhao Zhen smiled bitterly and said, "Then let it be, my great-grandson. With your bloodline, I should have made you a prince. However, I cannot enroll you in the imperial clan at the moment. The highest title I can bestow is Duke. How about you take charge of the government as a Duke of the First Rank? When you achieve something in the future and earn the respect of the people, I will promote you to Grand Tutor, or even to the rank of Prince."
Logically speaking, since Zhao Jun was the leader of the prime minister, his rank should be higher than Lu Yijian and others, and he should be the first rank.
However, the only first-rank noble title is the prince, and the officials with stipends include Shangshu Ling, Zhongshu Ling, Shizhong, Taiwei, Taishi, Taifu, Taibao, Shao Shi, Shaofu, Shaobao, etc.
Moreover, these official positions are not permanent. The permanent ones correspond to the prime minister, the secretary of the Secretariat, and the minister of state, who are generally of the first or second rank (the deputy prime minister and the assistant minister of state are generally of the second rank).
For example, Wang Zeng's full official title was Menxia Shilang and Pingzhangshi, Jixiandian University Scholar, and Duke of Yi. His original official position was Menxia Shilang of the second rank, which was half a rank lower than Lu Yijian.
Lü Yijian was granted the title of first-rank minister by Zhao Zhen only when he was seriously ill and dying, and Wang Zeng was posthumously granted the title of first-rank minister.
Even the prince of a county was of the same rank as the duke, which was the second rank. This shows that it was unlikely for a first rank official to be in the Northern Song Dynasty, at least during one's lifetime.
Zhao Zhen did have the power to confer titles of the first rank, but to be a first rank official one had to pass the imperial examination, and to be a prince one had to be of the royal family. Princes of other surnames could only be conferred posthumously, with the only exception being Tong Guan during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song. Since the current royal family was Prince Pu, Zhao Zhen had no other options.
What's more, even if Zhao Jun became a member of the royal family, the ancestral system of the Song Dynasty prohibited royal family members from entering officialdom. This resulted in him not being able to pass the imperial examination if he wanted to be appointed an official, and not being a member of the royal family if he wanted to be granted the title of king. He had to find another way and lead the Political System Council with the title of Duke.
This was probably the first time in the Song Dynasty that a person was assigned to take charge of national affairs without any salary-earning officials.
"Can."
Zhao Jun didn't dwell on the official positions and said, "The Constitutional Council will tentatively have seven members. We can also add alternate members, and if someone withdraws, they will be immediately replaced."
"What powers do alternate academicians have?"
"I have the right to make suggestions and nominate. For example, if I see an official I like and think can be put to good use, I can nominate him, but I need to approve him."
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